Mt. Kazbegi — The Great Sojourn

Posts tagged Mt. Kazbegi

148 - Return to Kazbegi (Kazbegi, Georgia)

The myths and legends associated with this extinct volcano are as thick as the mist we encountered on the way up. A cave near Betlemi Hut was the prison of choice for Amirani (Georgia's version of Prometheus), the insolent son of a goddess who dared to share fire with mortals. The cave is also reputed to have housed Christ's manger, Abraham's tent, a golden cradle, a monkey paw, Merlin's cap, and Excalibur. (I may have added the last three out of a childish sense of blasphemy.) Only the pure of heart may view these objects. All others perish or go blind. I had no desire to do either, so I postponed my visit until I could purify my sins…

Georgia, Batch 25by Mr. Nos T. O'maniacOctober 3, 2022Georgia, Gergeti Trinity Church, Kazbegi, Mt. Kazbegi

146 - Kazbegi & Hurricane Olef (Kazbegi to Tbilisi, Georgia)

Under Tsarist Russia, and later the U.S.S.R, religious services were banned, though it remained a popular tourist attraction. Evidence of Russian control remains on the outer walls a la Russian language graffiti. I found dates as far back as 1887 carved into the stone. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the locals dismantled a cable car that once ferried lazy day-trippers to the church, deeming the contraption a sacrilegious emblem of oppression. I wondered how they felt about the military helicopter filled with what appeared to be tourists that landed nearby. Somebody knew somebody important… heathens….

Georgia, Batch 25by Mr. Nos T. O'maniacSeptember 14, 2022Kazbegi, STEPANTSMINDA, Mt. Kazbegi, Gergeti Trinity Church